Electric grill



May 5, 1925. 1,536,538

v. B. STOUFFER ELECTRIC GRILL Filed Dec. 8, 1924 3 Sheets-sheaf. 1

l erlwn B. JZOIl/ff, INVENTOR.

TORNE Y.

May 5, 1925.

V. B. STOUFFER ELECTRIC GRILL Filed Dec. 8, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HR fim ME W u B n 0 n r m ORNEY.

May 5, 1925.

v. B. STOUFFER ELECTRIC GRILL Fil'ed Dec. 8. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VEN TOR.

Patented :May 5,1925.

Nrr

iirncraro earns.

AppllcationlfledDecember}, 1924. Serial No. 754,466.

' To all. uih'om it may concern: J

Be it known that I, VERNON B. si mer,

A a citizen of the United States, and resident a each sandwich or the like passing electricall 10 {YO .of'Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in an Electric Grill, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to apparatus, for grilling, toasting, and otherwise cooking odstuffs, and particularly sandwiches formed, of a slice of bread covered with'some other food ingredient or combination of ingredients, .which are toasted or otherwise cooked in my improved apparatus while upon the bread.

wherein through. the apparatus may be automatic toasted to the same extent regardless of t e attenthe provision of anelectric grill tion or inattention of the operator,- the degree of heat and the time of exposure thereto being preliminarily adjustable under the care of an expert.

Another object of my invention is the arrangement of an electric grill for'window display in restaurants, etc., and wherein portions of the apparatus handling both the uncooked and cooked sandwiches, are'open to the view of spectators without impairing the utility of the grill.-

my invention is the A further object of an electric grill of an endcarrier while itfis not In sandwich sup porting position beneath the heating elements.

Other objects and advantages will be a-p-' parent from the following description, where1n reference s made to' the accompanylng drawlngs illustratlng a: preferred The principal ob ect of my invention is" ity for sandwiches and the like hav similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views,

,' In the drawingsi msnms OFF venison a. armies,- or nn'rnorr, men-man.-

' embodiment of my invention and wherein f Fig. lis a perspective view of my improved electric grill. 7

Fig. 2 is' a centrallongitudinal section therethrough Fig. 4 is a cross section taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.-

a 160 Fig. is an enlarged detail view taken substantlally on the line 33 of Fig; 2..

Referrmg now to the drawings, the nu I meral 5 designates a casing herein shown as substantially oblong in contour and adapted to house thefmoving elements 'of my imp'rovedapparatus, A series of ventilating apertures 6 of the casing to aid in cooling the endless carrier 7 while it is not in position for sup- .porting sandwiches or other. foodstuffs beneath the heating elements. a At one extremf orm 8 forthereception of uncooked sandwiches and the like, the floor portion of this platform being slightly below the upper edge of the casing 5 and in substantially the same plane as the cross bars 9 of the endless carrier 7 when in their flight beneath the heating, elements, whereby the on the. cross bars is facilitated. Moreover,

the positioning of the uncooked sandwiches is done in the open at a point remote from the heating elements and while exposed to the viewyof spectators. At the opposite end of the casing 5 is arranged a receiving platform 11 having a curved apron 10 extending close to the bars 9 of the endless conveyor as they-pass from their upper flight after they have emerged from their positions' beneath the heating elements. The

apron 10 is so arranged that it will not be 1 contacted by the bars 9 biitwvill remove from the bars any sandwiches or the like carried by the bai's' These cooked sandwiches are arranged inthe sides and end portions ofthe casing for permitting a 'free draft of airthrough the lower portion of the casing is arranged a display plat I positioning of the uncooked sandwiches upslide down the inclined apron 10 and are 7 held upon the receiving platform 11 in iiull tures 12 in a pair of of guide rails 16 view of spectators,whence they may be removed at any time by the operator. By virtue of this arrangement, the operator may place the uncooked sandwiches on the conveyor and then proceed with her usual tasks without devoting her further attention to the grill, and then can return to the apparatus and remove the cooked sandwicheswhenever desired.

.The endlessconveyor 7 comprises a plurality of spaced'bars 9 of chrome nickel or other suitable heat-resisting material with their ends loosely seated in enlarged aper Figs. 2 and 3). The links .13 may be formed of soft, steel, cast iron, or other ordinary materiaL'and the enlarged apertures 12 permit the ex ansion of the bars'9- without buckling. he .side chains are protected against exposure to the heat rays from the heating elements 14 by-guard strips 15, of metal, asbestos, or other suitable mate- 'rial secured to the upper portion 5 of the casing 5 (see Fig. 4) and arranged closely adjacent the side chains 13. Accordingly, the use of links of ordinary material will not seriously affect the life of the apparatus, since they are not exposed to the direct heat rays, and are contacted by the bars 9 at only one point, the enlarged apertures 12 inthe links providing a space for a layer of insulating air between the major portion of the bar and its links. The central portions of the bars 9 are adapted to rest upon a pair while exposed to the heat rays from the elements 14, and areso maintained in a predetermined path whenever passin beneath the heating elements. The guide ars 16 are preferably arranged longitudinally of the casing 5 substantially as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, being supported at their ends upon cross bars 17. This maintenance of the bars 9 in a predetermined path insures the securing of a plurality of sandwlches toasted to the same degree, and makes a fixed path relative towhich the heating elements '14 may be adjusted as desired. v

- As herein shown, the heating. elements 14 comprise parallel side bars 18 carrying electric wires embedded in a suitable. resisting material and coiled or strung in any desired manner, the side bars 18 being connected by an upper plate 19 serving to reflect the heat rays downwardly and also serving as a support whereby the heating elements may be secured at predetermined distances from the path of the bars 9. Thus, a pair of thumb screws 20 may be threaded into suitable apertures adjacent each end of the top plate 19 with the thumb engaging portions thereof having a shoulder adapted to rest upon the top plate 21 of a removable helmet 22 adapted to seat upon the top members 5 of the casing 5 and diside chains 13 (note speed. One shaft 25 also vert all heat from the heating elements toward the path of the bars 9 while' protecting the operator and spectators from the heat rays. By virtue of this construction, each heating. element may be raised .or lowered by .merely turning-the thumb screws 20in the proper direction, and, if desired, one end of'any heating element may be moved closer to the the o posite end 0 the heating element, where y the sandwiches .or other foodstuffs Supported on the bars 9 maybe exposed to 1 beneath the eating elements.

At the ends of their upper and lower flights the bars 9 are received into notches path of the bars 9 than erent degrees of heat during their travel 23 in the periphery of a pair of discs 24 fixed onshafts 25 so as to engage the bars adjacent their extremities. The shafts 25 are mounted in suitablebearings fixed upon the casing 5 and each carries adjacent one extremity a sprocket wheel 26 for the reception of an endless chain 27 whereby the discs 24v are simultaneously rotatedat the same carries a pinion 28 for the reception of the short drive chain 29 passing around a pinion 30 suitably con- I I nected with an electric motor or other source of power (note Fig. 5). It will be noted that the side chains 13 are not utilized in driving the endless carrier, the cross bars 9 being directly contacted by the discs 24 and the motion given thereby to the cross bars is imparted to the links of the side chains 13. This relieves' the side chains of all strain.

- The operation of my improved apparatus A is believed to be apparent. Whenever. the electric motor or other source of power is set in motion the shafts 25 are rotated to turn the discs 24, which in turn move the crossbars 9 of the endless carrier in the desired direction and at whatever speed has been determined by the setting of the source of power. The movement of the endless carrierbrings the cross bars 9 successively beneath the'heating elements 14 where they and any foodstuffs supported thereon are exposed to the heat rays from such elements.

The sandwiches or other foodstuffs are laid uponthe platform 8 and thence slid onto the passing cross bars 9. The weight of the sandwiches forces the central portions of the cross bars 9 into engagement with the longitudinal guide rails 16 so as to insure the maintenance of a predetermined path for the cross bars and sandwiches during the upper fllght of the endless carrier;

The heating elements 14 are adjustable toward and from the path of movement of the cross bars 9 in theirupper flight, and may be preliminarily set at any distance desired to impart the prescribed degree of heat to the sandwiches passing beneath. As above explained, one extremity of the heating elepass ments may be nearer the pathof the cross" bars 9 than the opposite end, whereby dif: ferent degrees of heat 'may be imparted at various stages of the passa e beneath the heating elements. After the sandwiches be ond the heating elements they are receive upon the incl ned apron 10 and slide'therefrom to the receiving platform 11.

Meanwhile the cross bars 9 engage in the peripheral notches in the discs 24 at the right end of the GtlSiIhg 5 and pass therearound to the lower i conveyor, which is in horizontal alignment with the plurality of ventilating apertures 6' :in the casing.

1 The air passing through the ventilating apertures serves to reduce the temperature of the preferably provide a engage the side links cross bars 9 during their lower fli ht. To aid in maintaining'the lower ,flig t of the cross bars in'substantially the plane of theventilating apertures (plurality of supportrollers 31 mounte in suitable brackets ;32-fixed. on the base'oi the casing 5 (note supporting rollers 31 13 of'the endless con- Figs. 2 and 4). The

veyor and are not contacted by the heated cross bars 9.

r The movement of theendless conve or is open to the view of spectators at eac end of-the heating elements 14, while the loading platform 8 and receiving platform 11 are-- I also open to view. This provides a certain attractiveness tothe apparatus itself, and

' the inspection thus afiorded to the uncookedand cooked sandwiches aids in stimulating the appetite of such spectators. Moreover,

these exposed portions of the endless conveyor permit the ready handling of the uncooked and cooked sandwiches by unskilled 'operators, since both the placing of the sandwiches on the conveyor and their removal from the apparatus are done at points remote from the heating elements. p In using myimproved a paratus, I prefferably employ slices of so bread with one surface thereof covered with cheese, bacon and tomatoes, or other desired ingredients. The uncovered side of the bread is, placed in contact wi h the cross bars 9, exposing the covered side to the direct rays from the heating elements. The bread is thus not directly exposed to the heat, but serves as an insulating medium between the heating elements and the cross bars 9 as well as an absorbing medium for juices or the like emanating from the ingredients upon the bread while exposed to the heat.

If such juices or greases from meats were to fall upon the heated cross bars or adjacent heated parts of the apparatus the odor of burning materials would be objectionable,

besides the charriug serving to discolor and perhaps clog the apparatus.

While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiment of my invention herein -fillthe objects and advantages stated, it is to be'understood that t 1e invenght of the endlessdisclosed is well calculated to adequately fultion is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the sub oined claims.

rimarily aving described my invention,.I claim---'v 1. An electric grill having an endless conveyor arranged to traverse a predetermined path during its upper flight, a single electric eating element, said element being adjustably secured above the central portion of the upper flight of the conveyor, a'casing covering the heating element, and means for moving the conveyor at any desired speed;

so An electric grill having an endless conveyor arranged to traverse a predetermlned path during its upper vflight, a single electric. eating element, saidelement being adjustse'curedabove the central portion ofthe upper flight'oflthe conveyor, a casing covering the heatin element, the end portions of the upper flig it of the conveyor being exposed to the air, an 0 en loading platform arranged at one end 0 the conveyor in horizontal alignment with the upper flight, an open receiving'fillatform arranged at the oposite end of t e conveyor and having an inclined apron extending into close .prox1m-1 ity to the pathoftheconveyor, and means for directing cooling air upon the conveyor during its lower flight.

3. An electric grill having an open-top casing, an endless conveyor mounted for movement therein with its upper flight exloo tendingabove the casing,a;loadingplatform upper flight of the con; platform carried at the above the casing, a loading platform carried i at one end of the casing inhorizontal alignment with the upper flight of the conveyor, 2. receiving platform carried at the opposite end of the casing, a removable helmet mounted on the casing and arranged to cover the central portion only of the upper flight of the conveyor, and an electric heating element adjustably mounted in the helmet, the casing being formed with a series of ventilating apertures for admitting coolin air upon the conveyor during its lower flight.

5. An electric grill having a casing, a

conveyor adapted to move articles to be I grilled within the casing, an electric heating element arranged in the casing above the conveyor, and means for a'djustably mountthe helmet, and a p mounted on the casing and adapted to suplarged apertures for the reception 0 formed of spaced terial and connected side links having enfor the reception ofthe 'the bars, longitudinal w I I I I v I in theheating element whereby either end o the same from the conve or.

,6. An electric grill having an open-top may be moved toward or away casing, an endless conveyor mounted for-p movement therein with its upper flight ex-' tending above the casing, a loading platform carried at one end of the casing in horizontal'alignment with the upperiflight of the conveyor, a receiving. platform carried at th- Opposite end of the casing, a

mounted on removable helmet the'casing' and arranged to cover the central tric heating element adjustably mounted in plurality of guide bars port the endless conveyor in its upper flight. 7. In an electric grill, an endless conveyor formed of spaced terial and connected side links havin enthe extremities of said bars, means for moving the conveyor adapted to successively contact the bars, and an electric heating element adjustably mounted above the central portion of the conveyor.

8. In'an electric grill, an endless conveyor bars of heat resisting malarged apertures extremities of said bars, means for moving the conveyor adapted to successively contact guide bars arranged to support the central portions of the bars during the upper flight of the conveyor, an

portion only of the upper flight of the conveyor, an elecbars of heat resisting ma- I electric heatingelement arranged above the central portion of the conveyor,- and means for adjusting the heating element toward andfrom the guide bars.

9-. In an electric grill, an endless conmg material and connected sidelinks of relatively soft material having enlarged apertures for the reception of; the extremities of said bars, means .for moving the conveyor adapted to successively contact the bars, an electric heating element adjust-ably mounted above the central-portion of the guide Strips arranged to pro- 'tect the side links of the conveyor from the heat rays from said heating element] conveyor, and

-g10,. In an electric grill, an endless conveyor formedof spaced bars of heat resist ing material and connected side links of relatively soft material having enlarged apertures for the'reception of the extremities of said bars,

hand;

v ERNON B. STOUFFER. Witnesses:

vREX F RYE, ETHEL J EDLISK.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my "veyor .forined of spaced bars of heat resistmeans for movingthe-conveyor adapted to successively contact the 

